China expresses condolences on Kim Jong-Il

BEIJING - China on Monday offered its "deep condolences" on the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, which analysts said will spur Beijing to boost ties with Pyongyang to prevent instability. China is a neighbour and close ally of the isolated Stalinist state, whose official media announced on Monday that its leader had died of a heart attack at the age of 69 and that his youngest son, Kim Jong-Un, would succeed him. "We are shocked to learn that DPRK top leader comrade Kim Jong Il passed away and we hereby express our deep condolences on his demise and send sincere regards to the DPRK people," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said. Analysts said Kim's death would be a source of concern to stability-obsessed leaders in Beijing who would be anxious that Kim Jong-Un has not had enough time to secure control over the country's government and military. "I think China...